Greene County Daily World file photo HELPING VICTIMS: Greene County sheriff Terry Pierce announced Monday that the Greene County Sheriff's Department is participating in the nationwide VINE/SAVIN, an automated service that citizens can access 24-hours-a-day either by telephone or the Internet. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. SAVIN stands for Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification.

Thanks to a new program launched by Greene County Sheriff Terry Pierce, county residents now have fast access to custody information on offenders in Greene County and throughout the state.

They can even sign up to receive an automated notification when an offender is released.

Pierce announced Monday that the Greene County Sheriff's Department is participating in the nationwide VINE/SAVIN, an automated service that citizens can access 24-hours-a-day either by telephone or the Internet. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. SAVIN stands for Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification.

"Protecting the citizens of Greene County is always our highest priority," said Pierce. "Indiana VINE/SAVIN provides an added level of protection because it gives everyone access to timely and accurate information on offenders in our county and throughout the state. We're delighted that we could make this important service available to the public."

People calling 1-866-959-VINE (8463) are asked to provide an offender's name or booking number. After the system has provided the relevant custody information, it asks the caller if they would like to register to be automatically notified when the offender is released or transferred. Those choosing to register provide a phone number, and a four-digit personal identification number (PIN) which they will later use to confirm the notification call.

Live operator assistance is available round-the-clock for callers who have questions or require additional help.

Citizens can also go online at www.vinelink.com to locate and register.

"Indiana VINE/SAVIN is definitely designed with the victim in mind. It's very user-friendly," said Pierce. "What makes it special is the automatic notification feature -- as long as you've got a telephone or a computer, you can receive an automated alert any time of the day or night. That kind of protection is critically important to anyone who's concerned about the whereabouts of an offender."

Since 2005, the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) grant program has nearly doubled the number of states providing automated victim notification.

The goal of the SAVIN program is to increase public safety and improve basic criminal justice decisions by ensuring that victims are given timely and accurate information that both enhances their ability to protect themselves and ensures they are able to fully participate in the criminal justice process.

VINE/SAVIN is being offered to all Indiana counties. As of this date, the service has been implemented in 35 counties and the Indiana Department of Corrections.

VINE/SAVIN is a nationwide service used in more than 40 states. This includes some of the nation's largest metropolitan areas such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C.

How the program works

VINE/SAVIN provides access to timely and reliable information about the status of criminal offenders 24 hours a day -- over the telephone, through the Internet, and by e-mail.

In addition to obtaining information by telephone, the VINELink Web site is very easy to use and provides a way for crime victims and concerned citizens to register and be notified immediately in the event of an offender's release, escape, transfer or court appearance.

* VINE communicates with jail and prison booking systems in near real-time.

* Victims can find out if an offender is in jail, and the location of the facility.

* When a notification is triggered, VINE automatically calls the number the victim has provided and the calls continue for a designated period or until the victim enters a four-digit PIN.

* The information provided is for offenders who are currently incarcerated. Information about a specific offender remains available for two weeks following their release.

* A quick check of the service on Monday morning verified that persons who were booked into Greene County Jail over the weekend were included and the information correctly reflected whether they remained in jail or had bonded out or otherwise been released.

* VINELink facts report their standard transaction time to update the information is every 15 minutes for jails and twice each day for prisons. The time varies depending up activity at the facility and the resources they have to update the data but most data is current within 15 minutes.

* VINE does not include information regarding federal inmates but the Bureau of Prison's Web site at www.bop.gov has an "Inmate Locator" that provides information on any federal inmate.